Fascia of Humanity : Somatics - Contact improvisation - Ecopsychology

What is it about? 

What is fascia? 

Fascia is a thin casing of connective tissue that envelops and supports every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber, and muscle in the body. Beyond merely providing structural integrity, fascia is highly sensitive, almost as responsive as the skin, due to the presence of nerves. When subjected to stress, fascia tightens and adapts, playing a crucial role in our physical well-being and flexibility.
Source: web

What is Fascia of the world? 

Just as fascia provides support and flexibility within our bodies, our project seeks to create communities where individuals are supported and able to adapt and grow into their potential. By understanding how fascia functions under stress and how it maintains structure, participants can draw parallels to building resilient, inclusive communities. Contact improvisation, with its focus on physical connection and support, serves as an embodied metaphor for the interconnectedness and mutual reliance that is essential for fostering inclusive environments.

Main questions for this training: 

• Learning from Nature: How can we emulate natural ecosystems to create inclusive and resourceful living environments where everyone has what they need?
• Learning from Our Bodies: What insights can we gain from understanding our own physical systems, particularly connective tissues, to support inclusive living?
• Learning from Dance: How can dance (contact improvisation) teach us about cooperation, subtle listening, and the support necessary to sustain movement and growth in any context?
• Learning from Each Other: How can we learn to accept and celebrate individual differences, fostering authenticity and daring to be unique?

Methodology:

Somatics  - Ecopsychology - Contact improvisation ​

Somatic practices: Somatic practices focus on increasing awareness of bodily sensations, movements, and patterns to enhance overall well-being and self-awareness. This work emphasizes the body's internal physical perception and experience.

Ecopsychology: explores the relationship between human beings and the natural world through ecological and psychological principles. It seeks to understand and address the psychological underpinnings of environmental issues, proposing that the health of the planet is intrinsically linked to human mental health. It emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with nature to foster emotional well-being and a sense of ecological responsibility.​

Contact improvisation: Contact improvisation is a dance form centred around spontaneous, physical interaction between dancers, often involving weight sharing, balance, and responsive movements. Through contact improvisation, we can experience the principles of cooperation, listening, support, and embracing diversity. These experiences are not just confined to the dance studio but can be translated into real-world skills for building inclusive, supportive communities.

For who? 

This project is designed for youth workers, trainers, educators, dancers, NGO leaders, mental health professionals, etc. who are willing to...

• challenge themselves to explore and understand the multifaceted world of our physical, psychological and social functioning by embracing the practices that will be offered,
• explore the expressive potential of the body through technical and philosophical practice of Contact improvisation and somatic work, 
• trust the unfolding wisdom of the group process we will be cocreating together,
• spend time outdoors for physical activities, no matter the weather,
• gather new tools and inspirations for their work and activities with your community,
• commit fully to the program, and be open, curious and adaptive.

We aim to have 30 participants from Italy, Slovenia, France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Latvia and Finland.

Participants must be over 18 years old and have a communicative level in English so that they can participate fully in the program.

​This training course is co-funded through the Erasmus+ Programme, travel costs up to a specific maximum allowed amount will be fully reimbursed.

Important notice before applying:

The training course is open to people of all ages and experience levels. However, being open and interested in investigating this approach is important. We expect you to participate in the whole program. It means coming later or leaving earlier is not possible. Also, prepare for an intensive experience with at least 6 hours of physical activities every day!

Our work primarily centres around somatic movement practices and Contact Improvisation principles. Participants must be comfortable with giving and receiving touch as a means of learning.

Last drop of information: 

• Applications deadline: 1st of August at 12pm
• Selection results: 6th of August
• Arrival day: 12th of October by 7pm
• Start of the program: 13th of October 9:30am
• End of the program: 19th of October around 7pm
• Departure day: 20th of October by noon

More information: 

https://www.moave.si/fascia-of-humanity